Foreign Legal Study & Exchange Program

Bucerius has an application deadline that is earlier than all of our other partner schools. UCLA Law students interested in studying abroad at Bucerius during the fall semester will need to submit their application to the Foreign Legal Study & Exchange Program by February 15th.

Are classes taught in English?

All law courses within the exchange program are selected exclusively for the program and are taught in English. Students seeking to study abroad at Bucerius may normally do so only during the fall semester, as spring coursework is not instructed in English and is restricted only to those students who have fluency in German. Students who study at Bucerius in the fall term and who can demonstrate a strong command of German language may be permitted to take a limited number of regular courses offered in the German LL.B. program. Approximately 18-20 courses are offered during the semester. These courses are taught by experienced Bucerius and international professors, as well as by legal practitioners, and include offerings in Corporate Law, Introduction to EU Law, Global Trends in Intellectual Property and Digital Media Law, Introduction to German Law, The Law of the WTO, International Commercial Arbitration, Information Privacy and Data Protection, Mergers & Acquisitions, and more. View more details on course offerings and the academic landscape for exchange students.

What are the major strengths of the program?

Bucerius – currently ranked first for quality of teaching and fourth overall among the top law schools in Germany – has a highly competitive admissions process for incoming German students. Bucerius’ exchange program has a strong focus on international and comparative business law, and even enables exchange students to take specialized courses in law, economics, and management in order to earn a Certificate in Management and Leadership for Lawyers. The instruction style is interactive and incorporates the U.S. “Socratic Method” to enable students and lecturers from around the world to actively engage in and explore issues in international and comparative law from various legal perspectives. Courses are ABA-approved and thus allow for increased ease of credit transfer back to UCLA Law.

Bucerius has exchange agreements with more than 90 partner schools across 31 different countries. Cornell, Duke, Georgetown, NYU, Northwestern, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and the University of Virginia constitute just a handful of the over 30 U.S. law schools with which Bucerius has active partnerships. On average, Bucerius welcomes approximately 30 exchange students from its U.S. partner schools each year. UCLA Law may normally send up to two students to Bucerius during the fall semester. Learn more about Bucerius’ partner schools.

What is the term schedule?

Inclusive of a mandatory orientation program, the fall semester normally runs from September through December, and is split into two separate sessions. The first session typically lasts six weeks in duration, taking place between early September and mid-October, while the second session rounds out the semester, running from early November to mid-December.

Where can I get housing?

Bucerius does not provide on-campus housing, but does attempt to secure a limited number of rooms in nearby dormitories in Hamburg, for which interested students may apply upon receiving an admission offer. The Bucerius International Office will provide additional information regarding housing and other off-campus options after issuing an admission offer. Oftentimes, incoming students may have the opportunity to sublease an apartment or room from a German Bucerius student studying abroad. Bucerius estimates that students may spend approximately €300 - €650 per month (or €2000 per semester) on housing in Hamburg depending on amenities and housing preferences. More details about accommodations in Bucerius are available on their website.

Contact Information

UCLA Law Contacts

Prospective exchange students seeking more information about Bucerius are advised to first contact the designated UCLA coordinator and/or faculty contact with any initial questions. Only after submitting an application and receiving an official UCLA Law nomination should students then contact the Bucerius coordinators directly.